Bermuda Nightlife

Vacationing in Bermuda, we wanted to explore the Bermuda dancing scene and check out some night spots where we could dance the night away. We were staying at the Fairmont Southampton where they had live entertainment and dancing in the Jasmine Lounge and in the Cellar .A couple we met at the pool table in the Cellar told us about the piano music and comedy shows that they had enjoyed at Henry VIII. Talking of dance, reggae and salsa, they said that the Spinning Wheel is the ideal place to go if you want to shake a leg or just sip a cocktail after a refreshing swim in the pool.

We explored Hamilton’s nightclubs, bars and pubs on our own, zipping from one place to another on our rented scooter. After dinner at Portofino, we went to Splash which was right next door. The energetic DJ and the vibrant music drew us to the dance floor almost immediately. Relaxing with a glass of wine on the outdoor patio, we decided to move next to Ozone, on Front Street. The music scores and the cool lighting there attract a young crowd, both locals and visitors. Flanagan’s Irish Pub and Bar in the same premises was another pub where we found the music to be as good as the food and drinks served.

On our way back from Crystal and Fantasy Caves, we decided to stop by at Swizzle Inn to get a taste of the famous Rum Swizzle. They had live music and we enjoyed browsing around in their gift shop for souvenirs and whacky gifts for our friends back home. The Verandah at Elbow Beach was where we had the best time dancing to the rhythmic beats of salsa on Friday evening.

Bermuda - things to know before you go

So you have decided to go to Bermuda for a holiday? Congratulations, it is a great choice to make. Prepare yourself for a mind-blowing holiday at a complete vacation destination with incredibly beautiful beaches to relax in, a wide spectrum of water sports and land activities to keep you occupied for as long as you wish to be. The world heritage site at St. George’s adds a dash of history to your tour itinerary while the Crystal and Fantasy Caves add to the wow factor. Scuba diving to explore the reefs and ships wrecks around the islands and snorkeling to see the colorful marine life, fishing and whale watching in season should be some of the items on your “Bermuda things to do” list.

Here are some interesting facts about Bermuda

1. If you area golfer, you will be pleased to know that Bermuda has more golf courses per square mile than any other country in the world.
2. Mainland Bermuda is a group of seven islands connected by bridges and there are around 130 other islands that make up the territory.
3. Distances are given in kilometers and meters.
4. Gas is called petrol and sold by the liter, not by the gallon.
5. Visitors cannot rent cars but you can rent a scooter or a moped and zip around on your own.
6. Remember to drive on the left hand side of the road and don’t get offended if you hear a car honking – it is probably a drive acknowledging a friend across the road.
7. You can also use the public transport. Buses and ferries ply to different places of interest to tourists with predictable regularity.

Pink bus stop poles indicate buses going towards Hamilton and blue poles point to buses going away from Hamilton. Tokens, tickets and cash fares in coins as well as single day passes for unlimited travel are common for buses and ferries.

Bermuda for shopping

After spending days at the beach and hours in the spa getting pampered, if you crave some serious retail therapy, Bermuda has plenty of options for the discerning shopper. What is the point in working out at the gym to keep your body in shape if you can’t show it off draped in the latest Lilly Pulitzer sundresses? From swimwear to suits and smart casual resort wear, women and men can shop for everything in Bermuda’s Hamilton city. The best brands from UK and Ireland are often available in outlets in Hamilton at very competitive rates, often lower than the prices in the country of origin.

Boutiques and shops selling accessories, jewelry, clothing, perfumes and fine tableware line Front Street in Hamilton city as well as King’s Square in St. George and Somerset’s shopping areas. Department stores like Marks & Spencer, A. S. Cooper and sons and Gibbons attract locals and visitors alike with their wide range of apparels and household wares.

For the more discerning shopper looking for international labels in accessories and clothes, there are several outlets in Bermuda like the English Sports Shop, Cecile, Stefanel and Mambo. Iana is the place for children’s clothing though you may have to go to Cecile to pick up Lilly Pulitzer sundresses for girls in bright colorful prints. Smart classy Bermuda shorts at English Sports Shop and cotton knits for ladies at Stefanel and Lily Pulitzer sun dresses in vibrant floral prints and colors make for chic resort wear.

Visitors to Bermuda’s Royal Naval Dockyard and the Maritme museum on Ireland Island can stop by at the Craft Market to pick up articles made of Bermuda cedar or even needlework and quilts. Exquisite handcrafted glassware at the Dockyard Glassworks and the delicious aroma wafting from the attached Dockyard Cakery draw many a visitor. If you are tempted to indulge in all the ten different flavored rum cakes, remember that you have to fit into those lovely Lilly Pulitzer sundresses.

Bermuda’s Beaches

Beaches in Bermuda come in all sizes. There is the Warwich Long Bay Beach which is Bermuda’s longest beach and there’s the famous Horseshoe Bay Beach, a favorite haunt for families and passengers of cruise ships. Divers and snorkeling enthusiasts prefer Elbow Beach for its proximity to Tarpon Hole and the coral reefs. Everyone from swimmers, beach combers, picnickers water sports enthusiasts to sun worshippers will find a beach that they love among the many beaches of Bermuda.

Horseshoe Bay Beach is easily is the most famous of Bermuda’s beaches. A public beach with changing facilities, a lifeguard on duty in summer and a cafe to cater to hungry visitors, the beach with its curved stretch of pink sand is a must-see for all visitors to Bermuda. In September, Bermuda Tourism sponsors a competition of sand sculptures on this beach.

Warwick Long Bay Beach in Warwick Parish is a part of the south shore beaches, trails and parks stretch that starts with Horseshoe Bay and extends eastwards. This beach is a popular spot for snorkeling and there are facilities for renting snorkeling gear at the beach. A coral reef close to the shore is visible from the secluded beach.

Closer to Horseshoe Bay Beach is the scenic Chaplin Bay, a quieter place for those in search of privacy. Stonehole Bay is a small cove separating Chaplin Bay and Jobson’s Cove, a small sandy beach cove enclosed by limestone cliffs all around. From Warwick Long Bay Beach to Jobson’s cove, it is a short walk along the sandy trail. Horse riding along the trails is a popular sport. Such is the variety of marine life in these waters that snorkeling enthusiasts compare snorkeling here to being in an aquarium.

Astwood Cove in Warwick Parish is picturesque location surrounded by steep rocky cliffs. A popular destination for beach weddings, this cove in Astwood Park is ideal for picnics and a day at the beach with the family. Unlike Warwick Long Bay Beach, the sea here can be rough and it is quite a hike down to the beach from the road.

Luxurious accommodation in Punta Cana

The Dominican Republic is a popular Caribbean tourist destination for families and couples on a holiday as well as business and pleasure travelers. Known as the single largest Caribbean tourist destination, Punta Cana along with Bavaro, in the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, welcomes the most number of tourists from the US, Canada as well as Europe. Beaches in Punta Cana are in six different sectors, namely Macao, Arena Gorda, El Cortecito, Bavaro, Cabeza de Toro and Uvero Alto beaches and all of them are counted as major Caribbean tourist destinations.

Coconut palms border most of the beaches giving this region the name Costa del Coco or Coconut Coast. Resorts and luxury hotels along the beaches welcome visitors to the region with the best of amenities and accommodations that any Caribbean tourist destination has to offer.

A brief description of three luxury resorts in Punta Cana is given below:

Excellence Punta Cana

This luxury beachfront resort on Uvero Alto beach is a renowned Caribbean destination for weddings and honeymoons. It offers its guests much sought after privacy with its adults-only policy. Picturesque wedding venues and special honeymoon packages make it a preferred choice of couples seeking a romantic getaway,

Iberostar Resort complex

Four luxury resorts, Iberostar Bavaro, Iberostar Dominicana, Iberostar Grand Bavaro and Iberostar Punta Cana in the complex on Playa Bavaro offer their guests the use of facilities like the pools, restaurants and casino at any of the hotels within the complex. Dine around privileges ensure that guests have a wide choice of casual and specialty restaurants to choose from

Riu Taino Hotel

Nestled amidst palm trees in the RIU Complex on Arena Gorda Beach, RIU Taino Hotel offers classy accommodations typical of a Caribbean tourist destination. Guest rooms are spread across several villas in the vast gardens, ideal for couples and families with children. Guests are welcome to use facilities at the sister properties in the complex.

Taking Vows in Puerto Rico

I've dreamed of getting married since I was a little girl. My ideal wedding was a luxury wedding on some Caribbean island. My husband and I would take our vows on the beach, against the sound of the ocean and surrounded by dancing coconut palms. And finally, I was getting married to the man of my dreams. Kevin was like an angel sent from heaven. Before him, I'd dated so many guys I couldn't even remember all their names.

With Kevin, I found that special someone and I couldn't wait to spend the rest of my life with him. We got engaged after just three months of dating and were planning to have a beautiful wedding in a luxury resort in the Caribbean. There were so many resorts to choose from but finally we settled on the El San Juan in Puerto Rico. It's a luxury hotel that's right on the beach. Our wedding package included a few extra days for the wedding couple so we'd get to have our honeymoon in the luxury resort as well.

My mom took it upon herself to see to the wedding details. She was so excited to have a wedding in the family. She made a list of all the things that needed to get done and roped in all and sundry to help accomplish the tasks. For my dress, I chose an off shoulder gown with crystals all over it. It was a Vera Wang gown. Since we were having our wedding out of the country, we'd need to have a small guest list. After checking and double checking the names, we settled on calling 50 people.

A relaxing holiday in the USVI

A holiday in the US Virgin Islands in the Lesser Antilles was just what we needed after the last six months of working 14-hour days to complete our project. We chose to go the USVI because it was closer, and there were no passport and visa hassles to handle. We could travel as soon as we were free and enjoy all the perks of a Caribbean vacation like sunny beaches, scuba diving, snorkeling and plenty of motorized water sports to choose from. We visited St. John and St. Croix while we stayed in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas.

After a couple of days of lazing on the beach and some fun with motorized water sports like Jetskis from our beachfront resort, we set out to explore St. Thomas. The Amphibious bus tour of Charlotte Amalie and the harbor was fun and gave us an overall idea of St. Thomas. We also took a trip out to Water Isand , taking a ferry ride across from Crown Bay Marina. We spent the day biking around the island and swam in the cool waters of Honeymoon Beach on Water Island as we had had our fill of motorized water sports at our resort. Someone told us that Hassel Island is the place to go for hiking but we had already booked a hike on St. John.

Other than motorized water sports, trails for adventure sports enthusiasts interested in hiking or biking are available on St. John and in St. Croix. Birdwatching and hiking tours are also available on St. Thomas. At Coki Beach on the northeaster side of St. Thomas we visited a unique attraction for tourists – the Coral World, showcasing the fauna of the underwater world as well as the colorful sponges and corals that make the reefs their home

Spelunking on Cayman Brac

Named Brac which means bluff in Gaelic, the island of Cayman Brac has an imposing bluff dominating the island. Starting at sea-level on the western side, the bluff rises to a 140 feet on the eastern end of the island. Surrounded by gin clear waters and a healthy coral reef teeming with marine fauna and flora, Cayman Brac is a choice scuba diving and snorkeling destination. Fishing, cave exploration, bird watching, rock climbing and hiking are some of the other activities that attract scores of visitors to the island.

Guided tours of the island include trips to the light house on the bluff, cave exploration around the island and on the bluff. Migratory land and sea birds and the endemic endangered species the Brac Parrot may be seen on guided tours of the Brac Parrot Reserve, the lagoons and the inland ponds. Hikers and those who go rock climbing on the bluff can also do a bit of cave exploration along the way.

Some well-known caves in Cayman Brac are:

Peter’s Cave: Located in the high on the bluff, visitors who climb here for cave exploration are rewarded with spectacular views of Spot Bay and the south side bluff.

Nani’s Cave: A fairly recent discovery at the base of the bluff, Nani’s cave is filled with stalactites and stalagmites that have formed over centuries in the spacious underground cavern. Found by local workmen during the construction of a road, it is easily accessible.

Bat’s Cave: The caveis home to several bats and visitors can see them hanging upside down from the roof of the cave..

Rebecca’s cave has some historic significance attached as the haven for the residents of Cayman Brac during a particularly powerful hurricane.

A Couples’ Vacation in Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios in Jamaica is a choice destination for couples in search of a fun holiday on the beach amidst lush tropical gardens and all the modern amenities. Among several luxury hotels and resorts along the beach, Couples Sans Souci is an exclusive resort offering couples a romantic holiday or a honeymoon in a picture-postcard-perfect setting. Balconies in rooms and suites have panoramic views of the ocean and the beach and the resort’s pools are just a short stroll away.

Facilities at this exclusive resort include several restaurants and bars, pools, a spa, a fitness center, and a wide variety of land and water sports. A hearty breakfast at the resort’s Pallazina restaurant energizes guests for a fun-filled day at the beach or a day trip to Dunn’s Waterfall. The resort has activities scheduled throughout the day, from tennis lessons and beach volleyball, to yoga sessions and aquaerobics for fitness enthusiasts. Water sports lovers can go scuba diving and snorkeling. Rides on glass-bottom boats and sunset cruises allow visitors to get a peek into the beauty of the marine world. Couples can choose to dine on the beach at the Bella Vista under the mellow moonlight, listening to the melodies of the local band, besides the rustle of the palms and the sound of the waves. Honeymoon and romance packages at this exclusive resort include a couples’ massage at the spa and a candle-lit dinner on the beach.

What makes this exclusive resort special is the personalized service that guests get. Bartenders who know the names and the preferences of their guests, cleaning staff who are methodical and non-intrusive, reception that is quick, efficient, and helpful, all make a big impression on guests. Gardeners who ensure that the grounds are well maintained and maintenance staff who clean the pools and check their ph levels regularly show that the resort cares.

A Couples’ Vacation in Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios in Jamaica is a choice destination for couples in search of a fun holiday on the beach amidst lush tropical gardens and all the modern amenities. Among several luxury hotels and resorts along the beach, Couples Sans Souci is an exclusive resort offering couples a romantic holiday or a honeymoon in a picture-postcard-perfect setting. Balconies in rooms and suites have panoramic views of the ocean and the beach and the resort’s pools are just a short stroll away.

Facilities at this exclusive resort include several restaurants and bars, pools, a spa, a fitness center, and a wide variety of land and water sports. A hearty breakfast at the resort’s Pallazina restaurant energizes guests for a fun-filled day at the beach or a day trip to Dunn’s Waterfall. The resort has activities scheduled throughout the day, from tennis lessons and beach volleyball, to yoga sessions and aquaerobics for fitness enthusiasts. Water sports lovers can go scuba diving and snorkeling. Rides on glass-bottom boats and sunset cruises allow visitors to get a peek into the beauty of the marine world. Couples can choose to dine on the beach at the Bella Vista under the mellow moonlight, listening to the melodies of the local band, besides the rustle of the palms and the sound of the waves. Honeymoon and romance packages at this exclusive resort include a couples’ massage at the spa and a candle-lit dinner on the beach.

What makes this exclusive resort special is the personalized service that guests get. Bartenders who know the names and the preferences of their guests, cleaning staff who are methodical and non-intrusive, reception that is quick, efficient, and helpful, all make a big impression on guests. Gardeners who ensure that the grounds are well maintained and maintenance staff who clean the pools and check their ph levels regularly show that the resort cares.

Honeymooners in the Cayman Islands

Couples who choose to go to the Caribbean for their honeymoon have a wide choice of islands and resorts where they can celebrate their togetherness. For honeymooners in search of luxury accommodation and secluded beaches, the Cayman Islands are a very good option. The famed Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is home to the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort, which offers spacious suites with balconies that overlook the ocean. Honeymooners who prefer oceanfront rooms or garden-facing rooms too can have their pick when they reserve.

Honeymooners interested in water sports will find plenty of diving sites in the Caymans. Snorkeling is available close to the Marriott on Seven Mile Beach as well as on other beaches in the three Cayman Islands. Several water sports and tour operators can be found along Seven Mile Beach. Visit the Stingray City with your sweetheart for an unforgettable snorkeling experience. If the world of marine flora and fauna fascinates you but you don’t want to get wet, a ride in the Atlantis submarine is what you need. On the way to Boatswain’s beach, don’t forget to visit the Turtle Farm.

For a taste of the islands’ natural beauty away from the beaches, a hike in the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park can be a refreshing experience. Honeymooners looking for secluded beaches should go to Rum Point Beach on the northern side of the island.

Restaurants on the Seven Mile Beach and in fact, all over the Caymans, offer cuisines from around the world. Solana, a beachfront restaurant in the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort is considered as one of Grand Cayman’s finest restaurants. Honeymooners can also choose to dine at Yoshi Sushi, serving Japanese cuisine, Thai Orchid serving Asian and Thai fare, or in Casa Havana for a taste of their Caribbean delicacies.